Thomas Drake

Trumpets

Assistant Principal

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tom Drake joined the St. Louis Symphony in 1987 as Assistant Principal Trumpet. Prior to accepting a position with the St. Louis Symphony, Mr. Drake was Principal Trumpet of the North Carolina Symphony from 1985-87. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he began his professional career as fourth trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic after winning that position as a sophomore. During the summer, Mr. Drake is one of five trumpet artist/instructors at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan, the oldest such camp in the nation. Mr. Drake's interests lie in the recording field as well, as he is producer for AAM Recordings and Arch Media. He has produced recordings for the St. Louis Symphony and several of its members individually including David Halen, Diana Haskell, Haruka Watanabe and retired English hornist Marc Gordon. He also helped produce the orchestra's NPR broadcasts from 1996-2000. He and his wife Marian, a frequent substitute cellist with the St. Louis Symphony, have a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Michael.